Flight attendants, USAir OK pactUSAir and its flight...

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USAir and its flight attendants have agreed on a new 18-month contract after more than one year of negotations, the Association of Flight Attendants said today.

"The agreement represents a significant victory for USAir flight attendants in maintaining their industry-leading contract in the face of tough economic times," said Dee Maki, president of the union local representing workers at the Arlington, Va.-based airline.

Terms of the contract for were not disclosed, pending ratification by the membership by mail ballots in late November, the union said. The company said the pact affects about 9,000 flight attendants.

The tentative agreement was reached during negotiations Friday, the union said.

A federal mediator had been involved in the talks since July.

USAir is the largest carrier operating at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

$100 million settlement

A settlement between the state and 12 major automakers will provide up to $100 million in refunds to consumers under the state's "Lemon Law."

The settlement announced yesterday was believed to be the largest such refund ever by automakers and could set a precedent for other states, officials said. Within the next month, automakers will place advertisements detailing the details of the refund plan in major New York newspapers.

The settlement covers New York residents who bought or leased new cars after Aug. 2, 1986, and who were forced to pay for repairs that should have been covered by warranty. The repair must have been made after the manufacturer's basic warranty expired, but before the first 24 months or 18,000 miles, or whichever came first. The state's "Lemon Law" requires manufacturers and their dealers to make repairs under their warranty, at no cost to the customer, for a period of two years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The car makers who entered into the agreement are: Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo.